And we know that mice reproduce like... well... like mice. (Hey, they're even better than rabbits in this regard. )

Flies reproduce more rapidly than mice. However, those nifty fly traps have significantly diminished their numbers in urban areas. In rural areas, a combination of fly traps and vermicides added to horse pellets have worked wonders.

Maybe someone can design a better mouse trap?

I use those glue traps, Victor's Ultimate Flea Traps (which also traps mice), and those old fashioned mice traps.Still, mice and vermin are a problem especially since they are helping to spread Lyme Disease with their tiny ticks.

« Last Edit: August 10, 2011, 11:30:56 PM by Maria »

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The memory of God should be treasured in our hearts like the precious pearl mentioned in the Holy Gospel. Our life's goal should be to nurture and contemplate God always within, and never let it depart, for this steadfastness will drive demons away from us. - Paraphrased from St. Philotheus of Sinai Writings from the Philokalia: On Prayer of the Heart,Translated from the Russian by E. Kadloubovksy and G.E.H. Palmer, Faber and Faber, London, Boston, 1992 printing.

I wanted to get one of these electric traps but my husband refused.He said that the zapping would wreck havoc with his radio reception.

« Last Edit: August 10, 2011, 11:27:14 PM by Maria »

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The memory of God should be treasured in our hearts like the precious pearl mentioned in the Holy Gospel. Our life's goal should be to nurture and contemplate God always within, and never let it depart, for this steadfastness will drive demons away from us. - Paraphrased from St. Philotheus of Sinai Writings from the Philokalia: On Prayer of the Heart,Translated from the Russian by E. Kadloubovksy and G.E.H. Palmer, Faber and Faber, London, Boston, 1992 printing.

And we know that mice reproduce like... well... like mice. (Hey, they're even better than rabbits in this regard. )

Then there's the one I own. A body the size of a small rat, but a tail about 10 feet long.

What kind of mutant mouse is that?

I refuse to have rodents as pets in my home. They stink.

« Last Edit: August 10, 2011, 11:29:44 PM by Maria »

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The memory of God should be treasured in our hearts like the precious pearl mentioned in the Holy Gospel. Our life's goal should be to nurture and contemplate God always within, and never let it depart, for this steadfastness will drive demons away from us. - Paraphrased from St. Philotheus of Sinai Writings from the Philokalia: On Prayer of the Heart,Translated from the Russian by E. Kadloubovksy and G.E.H. Palmer, Faber and Faber, London, Boston, 1992 printing.

And we know that mice reproduce like... well... like mice. (Hey, they're even better than rabbits in this regard. )

Then there's the one I own. A body the size of a small rat, but a tail about 10 feet long.

What kind of mutant mouse is that?

I refuse to have rodents as pets in my home. They stink.

True with mice, not with rats. If your pet rats stink, it is because you are to lazy to keep their cage clean. I have raised rats for years and have found that their fur has a remarkable tendency to take on the fragrance of anything around them. So, if you let their cage get all nasty, they will smell nasty. Mice, on the other hand (and I have a bunch of those, too) tend to smell strongly regardless of how well they are kept. Not a problem if you don't mind that particular odor, but a big problem if you do. The absolute worst rodent that I have had for a pet has been a squirrel. I called that thing Psychovermin. Seriously, I do not recommend a squirrel as a pet.

PS - rabbits can be nice pets as they are relatively easy to "potty train". They will use a cat box much like a cat if properly trained. However, they are not a rodent but a lagomorph.

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I would be happy to agree with you, but then both of us would be wrong.

Nooooo! Don't talk about mice! I can't seem to rid my house of them! Just when I think I got them all, I scour all the pots and pans and clean everything....there's more droppings!

I can't use those "hygenic" traps! They don't KILL the mouse. So, when I get up and find that little fur ball trying to scratch it's way out ....it breaks my heart. I did that only one time....and let me tell you, it was a pain trying to open that trap to let the thing back out! LOL! Seriously! I worked for the better part of an hour before I was able to release that mouse!

I've bought a metal mouse trap a few years back, until I left it in the garage for the summer, and somehow a chipmunk found her way in to it.... let's just say it wasn't designed for such a large rodent, and when the sliding wall rotated to push the "mouse" into the secret compartment....the chipmunk went only half way, with her hind legs hanging out. When I noticed the scratching sound....it was all I could do to release her. She was wedged in their but good. I noticed she was a nursing mom....and it made things even worse....all her starving babies somewhere waiting for her. I worked to get her free, but, she only dragged her hind legs behind her. I was hoping that they only were numb, not that her back was broken. I would have detained her, but, I was sure she was trying to crawl her way back to her hidden pups somewhere. ...so, I let her go.

The sticky traps! NO WAY! Inhumane! I was talked into using them once. I set it up in the garage, where I knew the mice were ....and I caught a shrew not a mouse! The poor thing was squealing in fright! When I heard it, luckily it's nose hadn't come in contact with the sticky stuff yet...so, I slid a piece of paper under the nose. I tried pulling it off....but, no way! In a panic I ran through the house trying to figure out what would dissolve the glue....I ended up with nail polish remover and lighter fluid! Almost set the thing on fire! However, one drop of lighter fluid and the glue vanished.....that shrew just took off like Speedy Gonzalez!

Usually the mice start coming in the house in September, this year, I think I've had 1 month mouse free. They are already back. I have caught one per day for the last three nights. I'm using the old fashion snap trap. Peanut butter pulls them in each time.

I feel bad for them. I think they are cute and serve a purpose, but NOT in my house! Ewwwww!

I wonder if their early return is an omen of a cold winter ahead. Hmmmm.

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Conquer evil men by your gentle kindness, and make zealous men wonder at your goodness. Put the lover of legality to shame by your compassion. With the afflicted be afflicted in mind. Love all men, but keep distant from all men.—St. Isaac of Syria

And we know that mice reproduce like... well... like mice. (Hey, they're even better than rabbits in this regard. )

Then there's the one I own. A body the size of a small rat, but a tail about 10 feet long.

What kind of mutant mouse is that?

I refuse to have rodents as pets in my home. They stink.

True with mice, not with rats. If your pet rats stink, it is because you are to lazy to keep their cage clean. I have raised rats for years and have found that their fur has a remarkable tendency to take on the fragrance of anything around them. So, if you let their cage get all nasty, they will smell nasty. Mice, on the other hand (and I have a bunch of those, too) tend to smell strongly regardless of how well they are kept. Not a problem if you don't mind that particular odor, but a big problem if you do. The absolute worst rodent that I have had for a pet has been a squirrel. I called that thing Psychovermin. Seriously, I do not recommend a squirrel as a pet.

PS - rabbits can be nice pets as they are relatively easy to "potty train". They will use a cat box much like a cat if properly trained. However, they are not a rodent but a lagomorph.

We have some squirrel nests in our trees. And they smell for 100 feet. The phermones in their urine are nauseating.Yes, I raised a mouse for one week. No matter how often I changed the litter, it still stunk. It was a male. They are the worst.

« Last Edit: August 12, 2011, 12:53:05 AM by Maria »

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The memory of God should be treasured in our hearts like the precious pearl mentioned in the Holy Gospel. Our life's goal should be to nurture and contemplate God always within, and never let it depart, for this steadfastness will drive demons away from us. - Paraphrased from St. Philotheus of Sinai Writings from the Philokalia: On Prayer of the Heart,Translated from the Russian by E. Kadloubovksy and G.E.H. Palmer, Faber and Faber, London, Boston, 1992 printing.

And we know that mice reproduce like... well... like mice. (Hey, they're even better than rabbits in this regard. )

Then there's the one I own. A body the size of a small rat, but a tail about 10 feet long.

What kind of mutant mouse is that?

HINT: It has DELL stamped on top.

Oh, one of those. I like my ergonomical Logitech mouse with the red light. No problem with odor. No need for an exercise wheel or litter or pellets, but sadly it does not reproduce.I must buy a new one at least every two years it seems.

If a computer mouse were to reproduce, would we have mice or mouses?

« Last Edit: August 12, 2011, 12:56:50 AM by Maria »

Logged

The memory of God should be treasured in our hearts like the precious pearl mentioned in the Holy Gospel. Our life's goal should be to nurture and contemplate God always within, and never let it depart, for this steadfastness will drive demons away from us. - Paraphrased from St. Philotheus of Sinai Writings from the Philokalia: On Prayer of the Heart,Translated from the Russian by E. Kadloubovksy and G.E.H. Palmer, Faber and Faber, London, Boston, 1992 printing.

And we know that mice reproduce like... well... like mice. (Hey, they're even better than rabbits in this regard. )

Then there's the one I own. A body the size of a small rat, but a tail about 10 feet long.

What kind of mutant mouse is that?

HINT: It has DELL stamped on top.

Oh, one of those. I like my ergonomical Logitech mouse with the red light. No problem with odor. No need for an exercise wheel or litter or pellets, but sadly it does not reproduce.I must buy a new one at least every two years it seems.

And we know that mice reproduce like... well... like mice. (Hey, they're even better than rabbits in this regard. )

Then there's the one I own. A body the size of a small rat, but a tail about 10 feet long.

What kind of mutant mouse is that?

HINT: It has DELL stamped on top.

Oh, one of those. I like my ergonomical Logitech mouse with the red light. No problem with odor. No need for an exercise wheel or litter or pellets, but sadly it does not reproduce.I must buy a new one at least every two years it seems.

If a computer mouse were to reproduce, would we have mice or mouses?

I think Mr. Jinks would call them meeces.

I did not find that term "meeces" in the Oxford English Dictionary.However, I did hear that term used in children's cartoons.

When I was studying for my Masters in Linguistics, one professor said the correct plural for a computer mouse was computer mouses, but another disagreed and called them computer mice. I guess the jury is still out on that one. Nevertheless, the computer industry seems to prefer "mice."

« Last Edit: August 12, 2011, 03:28:26 AM by Maria »

Logged

The memory of God should be treasured in our hearts like the precious pearl mentioned in the Holy Gospel. Our life's goal should be to nurture and contemplate God always within, and never let it depart, for this steadfastness will drive demons away from us. - Paraphrased from St. Philotheus of Sinai Writings from the Philokalia: On Prayer of the Heart,Translated from the Russian by E. Kadloubovksy and G.E.H. Palmer, Faber and Faber, London, Boston, 1992 printing.

And we know that mice reproduce like... well... like mice. (Hey, they're even better than rabbits in this regard. )

Then there's the one I own. A body the size of a small rat, but a tail about 10 feet long.

What kind of mutant mouse is that?

HINT: It has DELL stamped on top.

Oh, one of those. I like my ergonomical Logitech mouse with the red light. No problem with odor. No need for an exercise wheel or litter or pellets, but sadly it does not reproduce.I must buy a new one at least every two years it seems.

If a computer mouse were to reproduce, would we have mice or mouses?

I think Mr. Jinks would call them meeces.

I did not find that term "meeces" in the Oxford English Dictionary.However, I did hear that term used in children's cartoons.

Yeah, I was thinking of a children's cartoon when I spoke of meeces. Hanna-Barbera's "Pixie, Dixie, and Mr. Jinks". One of Mr. Jinks's favorite lines: "I hates them meeces to pieces!" (I just watched the episode where Mr. Jinks shrinks himself down to a size smaller than Pixie and Dixie.)

I remember when my family owned a quartet of female white mice, all sisters from the same litter. We named two of them Pixie and Dixie after those cartoon mice. Another of them their mother stopped eating after gnawing off most of her tail. (Yeah, momma mice will often eat a few of their babies--talk about maternal instinct. ) We called that one, appropriately, Stubby.

Nooooo! Don't talk about mice! I can't seem to rid my house of them! Just when I think I got them all, I scour all the pots and pans and clean everything....there's more droppings!

I can't use those "hygenic" traps! They don't KILL the mouse. So, when I get up and find that little fur ball trying to scratch it's way out ....it breaks my heart. I did that only one time....and let me tell you, it was a pain trying to open that trap to let the thing back out! LOL! Seriously! I worked for the better part of an hour before I was able to release that mouse!

Liza,

I'd suggest a 4 legged mouse trap, but mine wants only to find them, drop them, watch them play dead and then scurry away - after which she chases them interminably, never catching them the second time. Her new trick is to carry them upstairs to my bedroom, to show me how proud she is - that's fun.

The catch them alive traps appeal to my tender-hearted 8 year old, but not to my mice, who decline all possible invites to use them, regardless of whether it's cheese or peanut better. Then, there's the one who lives in my kitchen and nibbles from the cat's dish - infuriating the cat, but not enough to catch and kill it (it doesn't help that the cat is too fat to get into any place small).

Quote

The sticky traps! NO WAY! Inhumane!

I agree - can't bring myself to use them.

Quote

Usually the mice start coming in the house in September, this year, I think I've had 1 month mouse free. They are already back. I have caught one per day for the last three nights.

Do we live in the same house? That's how many my cat has caught (and released) in the same time frame.

Quote

I wonder if their early return is an omen of a cold winter ahead. Hmmmm.

My thoughts as well.

Many years,

Neil (who can't get over someone's comments about the odor of squirrels, having once raised 2 orphans for 6 months and never experienced any odor issue)

Logged

"Not only is it unnecessary to adopt the customs of the Latin Rite to manifest one's Catholicism, it is an offense against the unity of the Church."

Nooooo! Don't talk about mice! I can't seem to rid my house of them! Just when I think I got them all, I scour all the pots and pans and clean everything....there's more droppings!

I can't use those "hygenic" traps! They don't KILL the mouse. So, when I get up and find that little fur ball trying to scratch it's way out ....it breaks my heart. I did that only one time....and let me tell you, it was a pain trying to open that trap to let the thing back out! LOL! Seriously! I worked for the better part of an hour before I was able to release that mouse!

Liza,

I'd suggest a 4 legged mouse trap, but mine wants only to find them, drop them, watch them play dead and then scurry away - after which she chases them interminably, never catching them the second time. Her new trick is to carry them upstairs to my bedroom, to show me how proud she is - that's fun.

The catch them alive traps appeal to my tender-hearted 8 year old, but not to my mice, who decline all possible invites to use them, regardless of whether it's cheese or peanut better. Then, there's the one who lives in my kitchen and nibbles from the cat's dish - infuriating the cat, but not enough to catch and kill it (it doesn't help that the cat is too fat to get into any place small).

Quote

The sticky traps! NO WAY! Inhumane!

I agree - can't bring myself to use them.

Quote

Usually the mice start coming in the house in September, this year, I think I've had 1 month mouse free. They are already back. I have caught one per day for the last three nights.

Do we live in the same house? That's how many my cat has caught (and released) in the same time frame.

Quote

I wonder if their early return is an omen of a cold winter ahead. Hmmmm.

My thoughts as well.

Many years,

Neil (who can't get over someone's comments about the odor of squirrels, having once raised 2 orphans for 6 months and never experienced any odor issue)

Ah, heck, my brother's cat will just eat the mice, and any other squirrel, rat, or sparrow he can catch. The cat's also a bit of an ***hole. No wonder my brother calls him Stryker, or sometimes just ***hole.

Neil (who can't get over someone's comments about the odor of squirrels, having once raised 2 orphans for 6 months and never experienced any odor issue)

Dearest Neil,

Note: in cages, you can clean out the litter daily. However, the tree squirrel gnaws 1/2 inch to 1 inch branches and uses these to construct a tight nest about two to four FEET in diameter which they line with leaves serving as litter. Since they do not change this litter, but simply add to it, whenever it rains, the odor is simply awful, and everywhere present within 100 feet of their nest.

This year, we had abundant rain almost every week, and the odor was just beginning to abate as the dry season was beginning. However, we have had a shift in our weather pattern and are now experiencing the Arizona monsoon: humidity and moisture. So it stinks mightily outside.

Logged

The memory of God should be treasured in our hearts like the precious pearl mentioned in the Holy Gospel. Our life's goal should be to nurture and contemplate God always within, and never let it depart, for this steadfastness will drive demons away from us. - Paraphrased from St. Philotheus of Sinai Writings from the Philokalia: On Prayer of the Heart,Translated from the Russian by E. Kadloubovksy and G.E.H. Palmer, Faber and Faber, London, Boston, 1992 printing.

Nooooo! Don't talk about mice! I can't seem to rid my house of them! Just when I think I got them all, I scour all the pots and pans and clean everything....there's more droppings!

I can't use those "hygenic" traps! They don't KILL the mouse. So, when I get up and find that little fur ball trying to scratch it's way out ....it breaks my heart. I did that only one time....and let me tell you, it was a pain trying to open that trap to let the thing back out! LOL! Seriously! I worked for the better part of an hour before I was able to release that mouse!

Liza,

I'd suggest a 4 legged mouse trap, but mine wants only to find them, drop them, watch them play dead and then scurry away - after which she chases them interminably, never catching them the second time. Her new trick is to carry them upstairs to my bedroom, to show me how proud she is - that's fun.

The catch them alive traps appeal to my tender-hearted 8 year old, but not to my mice, who decline all possible invites to use them, regardless of whether it's cheese or peanut better. Then, there's the one who lives in my kitchen and nibbles from the cat's dish - infuriating the cat, but not enough to catch and kill it (it doesn't help that the cat is too fat to get into any place small).

Quote

The sticky traps! NO WAY! Inhumane!

I agree - can't bring myself to use them.

Quote

Usually the mice start coming in the house in September, this year, I think I've had 1 month mouse free. They are already back. I have caught one per day for the last three nights.

Do we live in the same house? That's how many my cat has caught (and released) in the same time frame.

Quote

I wonder if their early return is an omen of a cold winter ahead. Hmmmm.

My thoughts as well.

Many years,

Neil (who can't get over someone's comments about the odor of squirrels, having once raised 2 orphans for 6 months and never experienced any odor issue)

Ah, heck, my brother's cat will just eat the mice, and any other squirrel, rat, or sparrow he can catch. The cat's also a bit of an ***hole. No wonder my brother calls him Stryker, or sometimes just ***hole.

We named our cat, Tux, as he looked like a arrogant lawyer wearing a tuxedo. He hated certain brands of cat food and would turn up his nose and stare at us in disgust if he were presented with such.However, he was an excellent mouse eater, but always left the huge grey Norway rats as presents on our door mat.

« Last Edit: August 12, 2011, 04:40:41 AM by Maria »

Logged

The memory of God should be treasured in our hearts like the precious pearl mentioned in the Holy Gospel. Our life's goal should be to nurture and contemplate God always within, and never let it depart, for this steadfastness will drive demons away from us. - Paraphrased from St. Philotheus of Sinai Writings from the Philokalia: On Prayer of the Heart,Translated from the Russian by E. Kadloubovksy and G.E.H. Palmer, Faber and Faber, London, Boston, 1992 printing.

Nooooo! Don't talk about mice! I can't seem to rid my house of them! Just when I think I got them all, I scour all the pots and pans and clean everything....there's more droppings!

I can't use those "hygenic" traps! They don't KILL the mouse. So, when I get up and find that little fur ball trying to scratch it's way out ....it breaks my heart. I did that only one time....and let me tell you, it was a pain trying to open that trap to let the thing back out! LOL! Seriously! I worked for the better part of an hour before I was able to release that mouse!

Liza,

I'd suggest a 4 legged mouse trap, but mine wants only to find them, drop them, watch them play dead and then scurry away - after which she chases them interminably, never catching them the second time. Her new trick is to carry them upstairs to my bedroom, to show me how proud she is - that's fun.

The catch them alive traps appeal to my tender-hearted 8 year old, but not to my mice, who decline all possible invites to use them, regardless of whether it's cheese or peanut better. Then, there's the one who lives in my kitchen and nibbles from the cat's dish - infuriating the cat, but not enough to catch and kill it (it doesn't help that the cat is too fat to get into any place small).

Quote

The sticky traps! NO WAY! Inhumane!

I agree - can't bring myself to use them.

Quote

Usually the mice start coming in the house in September, this year, I think I've had 1 month mouse free. They are already back. I have caught one per day for the last three nights.

Do we live in the same house? That's how many my cat has caught (and released) in the same time frame.

Quote

I wonder if their early return is an omen of a cold winter ahead. Hmmmm.

My thoughts as well.

Many years,

Neil (who can't get over someone's comments about the odor of squirrels, having once raised 2 orphans for 6 months and never experienced any odor issue)

If cartoons have taught me anything it's that cats need an arsenal of frying pans, small explosives, shotguns, and possibly nuclear launch codes to even come close to being effective mouse traps.

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"Funny," said Lancelot, "how the people who can't pray say that prayers are not answered, however much the people who can pray say they are." TH White

If cartoons have taught me anything it's that cats need an arsenal of frying pans, small explosives, shotguns, and possibly nuclear launch codes to even come close to being effective mouse traps.

Cats like to play with their prey.Sometimes the mice get away; sometimes they don't.

However, coyotes are apparently better at catching mice and rats than cats.

Logged

The memory of God should be treasured in our hearts like the precious pearl mentioned in the Holy Gospel. Our life's goal should be to nurture and contemplate God always within, and never let it depart, for this steadfastness will drive demons away from us. - Paraphrased from St. Philotheus of Sinai Writings from the Philokalia: On Prayer of the Heart,Translated from the Russian by E. Kadloubovksy and G.E.H. Palmer, Faber and Faber, London, Boston, 1992 printing.

Conquer evil men by your gentle kindness, and make zealous men wonder at your goodness. Put the lover of legality to shame by your compassion. With the afflicted be afflicted in mind. Love all men, but keep distant from all men.—St. Isaac of Syria

If cartoons have taught me anything it's that cats need an arsenal of frying pans, small explosives, shotguns, and possibly nuclear launch codes to even come close to being effective mouse traps.

Cats like to play with their prey.Sometimes the mice get away; sometimes they don't.

However, coyotes are apparently better at catching mice and rats than cats.

Coyotes are also pretty good at catching cats.

Coyotes are excellent at controlling and catching jack rabbits and cotton tails too.We have cotton tails being stalked and captured by bobcats, coyotes, and red foxes on our property.I have noticed less mice and rats too.

Coyotes do not make good pets from what I have learned.Even a dog-coyote mix cannot be trusted.My husband knew a man whose bitch got pregnant by a coyote.He kept one of the offspring which turned out to be an excellent guard dog, so he was kept at the place of business (an auto parts store). I was told that they have never had a robbery since that dog came on the premises. He did not look like a coyote, but he was not your friendly family dog.

« Last Edit: August 13, 2011, 01:29:56 AM by Maria »

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The memory of God should be treasured in our hearts like the precious pearl mentioned in the Holy Gospel. Our life's goal should be to nurture and contemplate God always within, and never let it depart, for this steadfastness will drive demons away from us. - Paraphrased from St. Philotheus of Sinai Writings from the Philokalia: On Prayer of the Heart,Translated from the Russian by E. Kadloubovksy and G.E.H. Palmer, Faber and Faber, London, Boston, 1992 printing.

I am so evil The first thing that came to mind was that the man's girlfriend was stepping out on him with a guy that makes his living running illegal aliens across the border. I see it has been too long since my last confession . . .

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I would be happy to agree with you, but then both of us would be wrong.

If cartoons have taught me anything it's that cats need an arsenal of frying pans, small explosives, shotguns, and possibly nuclear launch codes to even come close to being effective mouse traps.

Cats like to play with their prey.Sometimes the mice get away; sometimes they don't.

However, coyotes are apparently better at catching mice and rats than cats.

I don't know about coyotes, but my greyhound was quite the mouser in his day.

Some of the small fox-like dogs are also excellent mousers. For example, the fox terrier.

My neighbor had a fox terrier, and the gophers were quickly dispatched.

« Last Edit: August 14, 2011, 04:37:30 PM by Maria »

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The memory of God should be treasured in our hearts like the precious pearl mentioned in the Holy Gospel. Our life's goal should be to nurture and contemplate God always within, and never let it depart, for this steadfastness will drive demons away from us. - Paraphrased from St. Philotheus of Sinai Writings from the Philokalia: On Prayer of the Heart,Translated from the Russian by E. Kadloubovksy and G.E.H. Palmer, Faber and Faber, London, Boston, 1992 printing.